Against this the cross-examination threw all its weight. The
prosecuting attorneys having dropped the question of the key, the
shrewd young lawyer for the defense followed it up:--
"This key, Dr. Leslie, do you know where it is now?"
"Yes; I have it."
"Will you tell how it came into your possession?"
"Certainly. I picked it up on the deck, a night or so after the
murders. Miss Lee had dropped it." I caught Elsa Lee's eye, and
she gave me a warm glance of gratitude.
"Have you the key with you?"
"Yes." I produced it.
"Are you a football player, Doctor?"
"I was."
"I thought I recalled you. I have seen you play several times.
In spite of our friend the attorney for the commonwealth, I do not
believe we will need to call character witnesses for you. Did you
see Miss Lee pick up the key to the storeroom in Mr. Turner's room?"
"Yes."
"Did it occur to you at the time that the key had any significance?"
"I wondered how it got there."
"You say you listened inside the locked door, and heard no sound,
but felt a board rise up under your knee. A moment or two later,
when you called the prisoner, he was intoxicated, and reeled. Do
you mean to tell us that a drunken man could have made his way in
the darkness, through a cabin filled with chairs, tables, and a
piano, in absolute silence?"
The prosecuting attorney was on his feet in an instant, and the
objection was sustained.
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